REV joins German Autobahn police near Nuremberg, tracking speeders with hidden cameras and high-tech patrol cars. Fines, license loss, and safety checks show that even on the Autobahn, speed has limits.
00:11I bet you think that the German Autobahn doesn't have a speed limit.
00:15Well, you'd better think again because these officers are out today to catch speeders and derelict drivers.
00:22Today I'm on patrol with a state police unit responsible for monitoring a 400 kilometer measured stretch
00:29of the Autobahn near Nuremberg in northern Bavaria.
00:32These officers monitor parts of the highway where there are speed limits to ensure safety.
00:38Germany produced some of the fastest cars in the world.
00:42So what you're doing now, trying to control the speed, isn't it like trying to tame a beast?
00:49Sometimes it's hard for the police to really make people understand that in Germany we see speeding as very dangerous.
00:58In my experience, it's the normal cars that tend to drive significantly faster than the speed limit.
01:11Around 30 percent of Germany's Autobahn network actually does have a speed limit, and it's not optional.
01:19You were clocked going 1.52 in a 1.20 zone.
01:23We made a speeding control with a video, and you were much too fast.
01:28Too fast. Did you see the flash?
01:33You can go. I don't need the passport.
01:36But things aren't always straightforward, since there are many languages spoken in the EU.
01:41Very quickly, but first to the right, and after that like this. And there you go. Good luck.
01:49Speeding fines for cars on the Autobahn start at 20 euros for exceeding the limit by up to 10 kilometers per hour.
01:57You can lose your license if the speed limits are exceeded by more than 40 kilometers per hour.
02:03Fines for trucks are higher.
02:06The police officers don't just enforce speed limits. They're first responders as well.
02:13I just talked to the driver of this car. He's from Romania. It wasn't his car. It was his friends, and he's very upset about what happens.
02:23He doesn't know what happened. He just was driving, and the engine caught on fire.
02:27The officers use this undercover car when monitoring speed. It's equipped with an advanced in-car surveillance system known as ProVita, or Proof Video Data.
02:39Recording starts once the speeder maintains their speed, at which point the officers begin documenting evidence.
02:45The next stretch is 120. That could get interesting.
02:50How long do you have to drive behind them in order to get them?
02:54You have to follow them for at least 300 meters. Now it's 100.
03:01The stretch we have to measure is at least 300 meters.
03:05The car we were following slowed down to the speed limit before the 300 meters were up.
03:14On the part of the Autobahn with no speed limit, the recommendation is 130 kilometers an hour, which is about 81 miles per hour.
03:22But there are stretches of this Autobahn where there are clearly speed limits, and some of these cars simply don't want to recognize that.
03:35What are the other punishable offenses on the Autobahn?
03:38A phone to the ear, not wearing a seatbelt, not maintaining the required distance, passing vehicles on the right.
03:45All that is prohibited. Those are the most common.
03:52Other methods for catching speeders include an enforcement trailer.
03:56This is a mobile, high-tech laser device designed to autonomously enforce speed limits.
04:01These wonderful machines are called Blitzer here in Germany, and basically what they are are cameras.
04:08So, how many Blitzer are there in Germany?
04:11Countless. The huge number of speed cameras means you have to expect them everywhere.
04:15This device can cover up to four lanes. Here you can see which objects and vehicles it detects, and which lanes they are in.
04:23They are all slowing down. Because they see us.
04:34As we all know, the debate about speed limits in Germany has been an ongoing discussion. How do you both feel about that?
04:43It's clear that dangerous situations on the Autobahn mainly arise from excessive speed.
04:51We could prevent many serious accidents in Germany, including those with injuries and fatalities, if we had an Autobahn speed limit.
05:03Enforcement teams also work in groups to monitor and control speed, as well as issue fines on the spot.
05:09Drive carefully. Nothing should happen today.
05:12So, as you can see, we're being joined by a bigger team.
05:16We're setting up speed traps on the Autobahn to catch even more speeders.
05:20And for that, we change cars.
05:23Only ProVita cars can enforce speed limits.
05:26Since this police car lacks monitoring equipment, we join a team using hidden cameras to target cars registered outside of Germany.
05:34First, they position a hidden camera on a curvy road with a 100-kilometer-per-hour limit.
05:41Then it's a waiting game until the camera catches a speeder.
05:45I've ridden along with the police before.
05:50I'm going to throw up.
05:53I don't think I want to do it again.
05:56But I spoke too soon.
05:58Officers Pfeiffer and Ortl received radio information from the enforcement team about a speeder.
06:04So we're off again at full throttle.
06:07They intercept the speeding vehicle and guide it to a collection post to issue the fine.
06:24The limit is 100.
06:27We clocked you at 120.
06:29You'll have to pay a fine of 88 euros and 50 cents.
06:33Now? Now.
06:34Yo.
06:39Well, that certainly was enough excitement to last me the rest of the year.
06:44What did I learn today?
06:46Speeding in Germany will burn a hole in your wallet.
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